Man charged with bludgeoning wife to death with sewing machine

The accused first strangled his wife in front of their three children

The police have also recovered the blood-soaked sewing machine from the house.(Photo for representative purpose)

A man allegedly killed his wife in front of their three children on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday at Jawaddi Kalan here. The accused, Sonu Passi, who was under the influence of liquor when he committed the crime, fled from the spot, leaving behind his children with 27-year-old Poonam’s body.

The police have arrested the accused and booked him under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Police, during the investigation, found that the accused had strangulated the victim first and later bludgeoned her to death with a sewing machine. The police have also recovered the blood soaked machine from the house. Police said that Sonu was an habitual drinker and Poonam, who was a native of Uttar Pradesh, used to deter him to give up drinking, but he was reluctant.

Inspector Kamaldeep Singh, station house office (SHO) at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar police station, said, “Sonu worked at a gym as a massager. He was married to Poonam around 7 years ago. The couple has three children — a five-and-a-half-year-old and three-year-old sons and 8-months-old daughter — from the marriage.

The SHO added that Sonu was an acute drunker and used to suspect his wife of infidelity. “Poonam used to deter him from drinking. On Thursday late, the two entered in an argument. Sonu assaulted her and strangulated her. When she turned unconscious, Sonu took the sewing machine and bludgeoned her to death. She suffered grievous injuries on head and stomach.”

When neighbours came to know about the incident, they informed Poonam’s brother Amit, who reached the spot and informed the police, following which the police initiated the investigation. Singh said the police had arrested the accused on Friday evening from Jawaddi area. He was trying to flee from the city to avoid his arrest. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered against the accused in this context.